"Oh dear!Only a week more,and then we must go back.Don't you hate the thoughts of it?"said Jack,as he was giving Jill her early walk on the beach one August morning.
"Yes,it will be dreadful to leave Gerty and Mamie and all the nice people.But I'm so much better I won't have to be shut up again,even if I don't go to school.How I long to see Merry and Molly.
Dear things,if it wasn't for them I should hate going home more than you do,"answered Jill,stepping along quite briskly,and finding it very hard to resist breaking into a skip or a run,she felt so well and gay.
"Wish they could be here to-day to see the fun,"said Jack,for it was the anniversary of the founding of the place,and the people celebrated it by all sorts of festivity.
"I'd id want to ask Molly,but your mother is so good to me I couldn't find courage to do it.Mammy told me not to ask for a thing,and I'm sure I don't get a chance.I feel just as if I was your truly born sister,Jack.""That's all right,I'm glad you do,"answered Jack,comfortably,though his mind seemed a little absent and his eyes twinkled when she spoke of Molly."Now,you sit in the cubby-house,and keep quiet till the boat comes in.Then the fun will begin,and you must be fresh and ready to enjoy it.Don't run off,now,I shall want to know where to find you by and by.""No more running off,thank you.I'll stay here till you come,and finish this box for Molly;she has a birthday this week,and I've written to ask what day,so I can send it right up and surprise her.
Jack's eyes twinkled more than ever as he helped Jill settle herself in the boat,and then with a whoop he tore over the beach,as if practising for the race which was to come off in the afternoon.
Jill was so busy with her work that time went quickly,and th~early boat came in just as the last pink shell was stuck in its place.
Putting the box in the sun to dry,she leaned out of her nook to watch the gay parties land,and go streaming up the pier along the road that went behind the bank that sheltered her.Flocks of children were running about on the sand,and presently strangers appeared,eager to see and enjoy all the delights of this gala-day.
"There's a fat little boy who looks ever so much like Boo,"said Jill to herself,watching the people and hoping they would not come and find her,since she had promised to stay till Jack returned.
The fat little boy was staring about him in a blissful sort of maze,holding a wooden shovel in one hand and the skirts of a young girl with the other.Her back was turned to Jill,but something in the long brown braid with a fly-away blue bow hanging down her back looked very familiar to Jill.So did the gray suit and the Japanese umbrella;but the hat was strange,and while she was thinking how natural the boots looked,the girl turned round.
"Why,how much she looks like Molly!It can't be--yes,it might,I do believe it is!"cried Jill,starting up and hardly daring to trust her own eyes.
As she came out of her nest and showed herself,there could be no doubt about the other girl,for she gave one shout and came racing over the beach with both arms out,while her hat blew off unheeded,and the gay umbrella flew away,to the great delight of all the little people except Boo,who was upset by his sister's impetuous rush,and lay upon his back howling.Molly did not do all the running,though,and Jill got her wish,for,never stopping to think of herself,she was off at once,and met her friend half-way with an answering cry.Jr was a pretty sight to see them run into one another's arms and hug and kiss and talk and skip in such a state of girlish joy they never cared who saw or laughed at their innocent raptures.
"You darling dear!where did you come from?"cried Jill,holding Molly by both shoulders,and shaking her a little to be sure she was real.
"Mrs.Minot sent for us to spend a week.You look so well,I can't believe my eyes!"answered Molly,patting Jill's cheeks and kissing them over and over,as if to make sure the bright color would not come off.
"A week?How splendid!Oh,I've such heaps to tell and show you;come right over to my cubby and see how lovely it is,"said Jill,forgetting everybody else in her delight at getting Molly.
"I must get poor Boo,and my hat and umbrella,I left them all behind me when I saw you,"laughed Molly,looking back.
But Mrs.Minot and Jack had consoled Boo and collected the scattered property,so the girls went on arm in arm,and had a fine time before anyone had the heart to disturb them.Molly was charmed with the boat,and Jill very glad the box was done in season.Both had so much to tell and hear and plan,that they would have sat there for ever if bathing-time had not come,and the beach suddenly looked like a bed of red and yellow tulips,for everyone took a dip,and the strangers added much to the fun.
Molly could swim like a duck,and quite covered herself with glory by diving off the pier.Jack undertook to teach Boo,who was a promising pupil,being so plump that he could not sink if he tried.
Jill was soon through,and lay on the sand enjoying the antics of the bathers till she was so faint with laughter she was glad to hear the dinner-horn and do the honors of the Willows to Molly,whose room was next hers.